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On this 2015 cold February morning, in the Hamlet
of Holtsville, in the Town of Brookhaven, New York Holtsville Hal woke
from a deep winters sleep at the Holtsville Ecology Center and Wildlife
Preserve. Hal was in for a surprise something he never expected. Upon
exiting his Burrow he looked around. His head turned from Right to Left
and then he spun around. He then again Looked from Left to Right still
without looking down yet. His head shook wondering why with his presents
there was no sound, let alone anything loud.....? Then he realized.....Where's the Crowd ?!
After 19 years, have I gotten this day wrong? I hear no announcement
not even a song ! Then he turned and saw a man in a Top Hat, and knew
then it was the Mayor of the Day ! He was in fact Right on this Day and
proceeded to look down at the White Snow then looked up to Daniel P.
Losquadro and said there's something you should know. There's nobody
here it's more then quite clear......Dan told him ...for children's
safety the Park was closed, but everyone still awaits to hear your
Official 2015 Prognostication. So Hal proceeded to tell him in
Groundhogese that on the White Snow all about, he did see his Shadow and the thought of Spring must now go.
Sorry Folks.......Six More Weeks of Winter !

From Left to Right in the above photo that I took on February 2, 1996 is Harold H. Malkmes the 17 Term Superintendent of Highways. It was Harold who studied Horticulture at Farmingdale State University, and brought that knowledge and his vision to take the town dump in Holtsville and create what is now known as the Harold H. Malkmes Ecology and Wildlife Center. Harold with his wife Joyce created the foundation in creating a park now loved by everyone who visits it. It has a complete zoo of animals, Olympic size swimming pool, classrooms, walking and running track with exercise equiptment, and a childrens playground. But Harold had one furry animal he decided to name after him, he didn't see him except on February 2nd, but it was this unique gesture that today lives on. It was this little event of less then a dozen people coming to that even Harold had no idea of where it was headed to. The next man, you could say we've all looked UP to. Because high in the sky all over this world Felix J. Grucci Jr. of Fireworks by Grucci a former US Representitive, and Brookhaven Town Supervisor at the time, and to become elected to the 107th US Congress, has had us all looking up saying ooooh, and awwwh to spectacular explosive artwork in the sky. The next man Greg Drossel, Holtsville Hal's handler a Dean at the Ross School in East Hampton was offered to be the handler of Punxsutawney Phil in the movie Groundhog Day but instead stayed with Hal to this very day. Greg has taken students across the globe on real safari's teaching them about the animals in the wild where they roam free. Next, is then the Brookhaven Superintendent of Highways Patricia Strebel . Hal's guardian angel, Ralph Garcia who believed in my vision by a challenge by my daughter to take Groundhog Day to it's highest potential, immediately built a larger home and area for larger crowds not yet seen. Ralph saw the passion, and went with it, and to him and everyone I say......I've only just begun,
to make Groundhog Day with Holtsville Hal the finest Winter event, for children and families to look forward to from Now until
Forever !

.................Rebuilding One Step At A Time !

The stair case you see above may seem like nothing, but hear what I've heard from people of all ages who once walked them every time they were in the park . People of all ages have been using these stairs quietly and unnoticed. But for children, and parents who are working to rebuild an ailment, from stroke to leg problems of sprains, breaks etc. these are The Stairway to Heaven towards restoring strength and good future health. I'm sure Doctor Oz would quickly say stairs are GOOD EXERCISE. But because of poor maintenace and the ground shifting under them
they were taken down with no indication of restoring them! If the ground is shifting, simply hire a crew from San Francisco who know how to cope with the Earth shifting below them.....Problem solved. But the real answer is always......You Can If You Think You Can....so for the health and wellness and good of us all, lets rebuild ! Your stories of what these stairs mean to you that you shared with me will not fade into the wind!

..........Speaking of Health............and Creating Funds to feed the Animals

What you see here is a horse with only 75 yards to go to the finish line for the Triple Crown win at Belmont. What many don't know is when California Chrome exited the starting gate his hoof was hit by another horse by accident. But with that sore hoof, and bleeding, Chrome focused on what Chrome does best.....Win the Race. In this photo that I took, the race could of stopped right here......California Chrome had Already Won, for Everyone already Believed in him, and Everybody across the panet including me was rooting for him......He HAD ALREADY won the hearts of all of us, and the line ahead could NEVER and will Never, take that away from him. When the race was over the hoof was spotted and immediately taken care of by the jockey and owners, and to this day you realize it's not if you cross the line first, but that people believe in you,.. to try!

The New York Pavilion at the Flushing Meadows Park in Queens, NY has Finally been added to the register of National Treasures by the National Trust for Historic Preservation on the 50th Anniversary in 2014. It has now become the 44th type building to enter the field like President Lincoln's cottage in Washington D.C. Designed
by renowned Architect Philip Johnson and structual engineer Lev Zetin. The eliptical floor was covered with a large Terrazzo Map that replicated the Texaco Road Map of New York State that we once picked up at the gas station Bob Hope spoke for.

If we don't RESTORE "Our " history and allow others to let it crumble to the ground, our children will never enjoy or see or learn about their families past or about their visions and how they wanted to make a richer life ahead for them. It is time that we stop wishing that the Pavilion
etc. came back to life.....and stand up and help make it happen. If we don't, our own history will look like Planet of The Apes !

I don't know about you but I've had just about enough fun in the snow for this year !!!